However, I also note the date requirement now on EVERY drive. An apparently critical detail. So, this date is a requirement on ALL of these drives now? Also, I do not see the BE16NU50, BW-12D2HT (and PRO), nor the WH126NS58 in this list either. So, are these somehow no longer compatible? Or just not as "preferred"? I cant keep blowing my money on drives. I have an ebay offer standing on a WH16NS40 that has a 2014 manuf date. It seems I need to be canceling that one now, which would been another worthless drive!

I would also like to see a new and cleaned up post outlining the best drives, and all the requirements. I would do it if I knew I had the right details.

Thank you.

i think you just misunderstood new versions of the WH14NS40 are compatible i sell those the most but in the info you posted of your drive shows it as firmware 1.00 with a build date of 2112 that means 2012 if that is what firmware the drive came with it was built before it was compatible the drive would also have a ns50 on the top label that older drives dont have as Marty said it is to old if that is the original firmware another way to tell is the ones with the brushed plastic front are the older not compatible ones, new ones have textured plastic.

I'm sure everyone keeps asking the same questions over and over again... I apologize in advance.
I'm in Australia. The only drive I could find locally is "ASUS BW-16D1HT-Pro".
I have seen a few posts that say that it worked, and some that say it didn't work, so just wondering if this Pro edition of this model has still been confirmed as being a UHD friendly drive, and has worked for some?

At this time, what is the best external drive to buy that will, or can be made to, read and rip (with software of course) 4K/UHD discs? Store bought, not purchased from a 3rd party seller here. I have $-credits to use so I prefer to go that route. If anyone who is 3rd party and has pre-configured drives to sell would like to send me a PM or email with a list then please do. I am interested in both an internal and an external drive. BZowak at gmail

1.01 is the current shipping version yeah, I believe that 1.00 is the desired revision, though I'm not sure why.

Well, if it becomes necessary, I'll figure out how to downgrade it. I'm not super worried right now as I've got a friendly ASUS drive with 3.02 on it that hasn't let me down yet with any of my UHD's. I just wanted to have a real UHD drive that could potentially have useful functionality going forward. I have personal speculation on why these drives might actually be better going forward than friendly drives but it's just a guess. Hence, I grabbed one. LOL

Which model exactly would the "friendly ASUS drive with 3.02 on it" be?

1.01 is the current shipping version yeah, I believe that 1.00 is the desired revision, though I'm not sure why.

Well, if it becomes necessary, I'll figure out how to downgrade it. I'm not super worried right now as I've got a friendly ASUS drive with 3.02 on it that hasn't let me down yet with any of my UHD's. I just wanted to have a real UHD drive that could potentially have useful functionality going forward. I have personal speculation on why these drives might actually be better going forward than friendly drives but it's just a guess. Hence, I grabbed one. LOL

Which model exactly would the "friendly ASUS drive with 3.02 on it" be?

BW-16D1HT that I bought 13 months ago. I'm pretty sure the ones being sold now are coming with 3.03 or higher and would require being downgraded. It's a rebranded LG drive from what I understand. I know they were flashing LG firmware on this drive and vice versa about a year ago. I've no real idea what the current status of this drive is but I've been using mine for a year now with zero problems. That's not to say I would recommend you buy one, simply that it's my experience on the one I bought a year ago.

Well, if it becomes necessary, I'll figure out how to downgrade it. I'm not super worried right now as I've got a friendly ASUS drive with 3.02 on it that hasn't let me down yet with any of my UHD's. I just wanted to have a real UHD drive that could potentially have useful functionality going forward. I have personal speculation on why these drives might actually be better going forward than friendly drives but it's just a guess. Hence, I grabbed one. LOL

Which model exactly would the "friendly ASUS drive with 3.02 on it" be?

BW-16D1HT that I bought 13 months ago. I'm pretty sure the ones being sold now are coming with 3.03 or higher and would require being downgraded. It's a rebranded LG drive from what I understand. I know they were flashing LG firmware on this drive and vice versa about a year ago. I've no real idea what the current status of this drive is but I've been using mine for a year now with zero problems. That's not to say I would recommend you buy one, simply that it's my experience on the one I bought a year ago.

I'm looking to get an "official" UHD drive. I can get an LG BU40N drive here from Amazon UK, and an enclosure to put it in. Or I can buy a BU50N from the US and have it shipped over. Is there any reason (functionality of MakeMKV-wise) to get the BU50N over the BU40N? I haven't been able to find the WH16NS60 (or BH16NS60) at all.

I'm looking to get an "official" UHD drive. I can get an LG BU40N drive here from Amazon UK, and an enclosure to put it in. Or I can buy a BU50N from the US and have it shipped over. Is there any reason (functionality of MakeMKV-wise) to get the BU50N over the BU40N? I haven't been able to find the WH16NS60 (or BH16NS60) at all.

I'm looking to get an "official" UHD drive. I can get an LG BU40N drive here from Amazon UK, and an enclosure to put it in. Or I can buy a BU50N from the US and have it shipped over. Is there any reason (functionality of MakeMKV-wise) to get the BU50N over the BU40N? I haven't been able to find the WH16NS60 (or BH16NS60) at all.

Includes some important information from Mike (owner/developer of MakeMKV) throughout regarding what you are asking.

I did. Unless I just missed something it doesn't address what I'm asking. That thread only mentions the BU50N, but this one lists it as one of the "official" drives. Which is why I'm trying to find out if they will both be supported in what is currently being worked on, or only the BU50N.